If you only go to one place for dinner in Lviv, Ukraine it should be Kryivka. Here, you get not only food but an entire World War II Insurgence Army experience. But first, you have to find it… Lviv is the prettiest European city that you’ve never heard of. Located in western Ukraine near its […]

Lviv is Eastern Europe’s undiscovered gem, at least to Americans. This utterly gorgeous city, just 40 miles from the border of Poland, is not only home to stunning Austro-Hungarian architecture and colorful town squares, but the restaurants in Lviv are unlike anything I’ve ever experienced in all of Europe. They’re called “Emotional Restaurants,” and they […]

On my recent trip to Peru, I was determined to try cuy (guinea pig), a local delicacy. But not just anywhere. I wanted the best, so I went to Pachapapa – considered one of the finest restaurants in Cusco. Location: Pachapapa is in the artsy San Blas neighborhood, directly in front of the San Blas […]

“Don’t go to street markets!” warned our Chinese guide from Viking River Cruises. “Dangerous. You get sick.” I get it. Nobody wants tourists to have a bad experience. Viking, in particular, caters to an older, affluent crowd who prefer fine dining and luxury experiences. Enter me, a well-traveled adventure junkie who isn’t good at following […]

Danny Tang, 48 years old, has been the Chef de Cuisine for Viking River Cruises’ Imperial Jewels of China tour for 10 years. It’s a plum job. China’s flourishing inbound tourism has led it to become the world’s second largest travel and tourism economy. The Asian country has sustained its international fascination, particularly in America, […]

“It doesn’t matter where you’re from – or how you feel… There’s always peace in a strong cup of coffee.” ― Gabriel Bá, Coffee in the United States has become somewhat of pop culture. Get in line, order the most complicated, tongue-twisting combination of caffeine on the menu, and drink it from the paper cup […]

Full transparency: I’m not a foodie. I’m an adventure traveler. So when our JayWay tour guide said we were going to take a cooking class while traversing Macedonia, I was not thrilled. I anticipated boredom. I was wrong, very wrong. Lake Ohrid We started out from our hotel on glorious Lake Ohrid where we’d spent […]

Albanian wine is no stranger to Europe. Archeological evidence near the capital of Tirana indicates traces of tannic acid, which produces the bitter taste in wine, dates back to a 6,000-year viniculture, making Albania arguably the oldest winemaker in Europe. Albania, a small country bordering Greece on the Adriatic Sea, has four separate wine regions, […]

“Every day is a journey, and the journey itself is home.” ~Matsuo Basho Tracie Triolo thought her life would be that of a musician. And it was…for a while. But her roots in the love of food and the pull of the ocean proved irresistible, and she found herself on an entirely different path. One […]

When people think of Prague cuisine, they most often think of Czech goulash – chunks of beef heavily laden with gravy and served up in a bowl of thick, coarse bread. But Sophia Smith has been working hard to change that perception. A British expat who moved to Prague sixteen years ago, Sophia brings a […]

Hi! I'm Patti....so nice to e-meet you! I'm here to inspire you to travel more and perhaps even to destinations and activities which may be out of your comfort zone. Click on my photo to learn more about me. xo

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Featured Quote

“Once the travel bug bites there is no known antidote, and I know that I shall be happily infected until the end of my life.” ~ Michael Palin